Press

The Aurora Summit brings Aurora enthusiasts in the mid-latitudes together for a weekend workshop in the U.S. Launched in 2017, the inaugural event attracted visitors from eight states and two countries, earning media coverage.

Press Releases

AUGUST 7, 2018

Aurora Summit 18 brings national conference to Minnesota for second year

TWO HARBORS, MINN. – The Second Annual Aurora Summit returns to Minnesota, coming to Lake Superior’s shore from Friday, Nov. 2 to Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018. The national conference, which is open to the public, celebrates the art, culture, science and photography of the Northern Lights.

Adams is a self-described star lore historian, who led the successful initiative to establish Michigan’s only International Dark Sky Park in 2011. For nine years, she also led the park to award-winning recognition for innovative programming and dark sky advocacy, including the top Pure Michigan “Pure Award” for stewardship of the state’s natural resources, and the first-ever International Dark Sky Place of the Year Award from the International Dark Sky Association, in 2017. Her radio show, “The Storyteller’s Night Sky,” airs each week on Interlochen Public Radio.

On top of the keynote speech, the Aurora Summit will present a talk by Bob Kelley, who recently retired from a 40-year career at the Scobee Education Center Planetarium. He worked as both as planetarium director and “Mission Flight Director” in the new Challenger Learning Center in San Antonia, Texas. Kelley has always had a passion for celestial photography, taking several trips to Alaska to image the Northern Lights or to the deserts of west Texas to enjoy the darkest skies on Earth and views of the Milky Way.

The Aurora Summit will also offer a panel discussion on the Northern Lights, a travel companion meet-up, a travelogue, awards and prizes, and special features. The event offers many educational sessions, with more than 12 presentations slated on topics related to the Aurora Borealis, photography and the night sky.

Led by published authors, scientists and professional photographers, the presentations range from the history, culture and science of the night sky, to Aurora forecasting and photography. The topics include:

Basics for Night Sky Photography, with Photographer Terry Mann

From Apps to Kp: Aurora Forecasting for Beginners, with Author Bob King

10 Keys to Gain a Social Media Following, with Destination Duluth’s Jerry Thoreson

Essential Software and Apps for Aurora Chasers and Photographers, with Photographer Michael Jordan

Conference guests will also have the chance to participate in and view an Aurora Slideshow showcasing photos from the Great Lakes Region. After hours, guests will be invited to join a night photography shoot with others from Aurora Summit 18.

In its inaugural year, the Aurora Summit attracted night sky enthusiasts from eight states and two countries, making it the leading conference on the Northern Lights in the U.S. The states and regions represented in 2017 included Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota and Georgia, as well as Manitoba, Canada.

Designed for newcomers and experienced Aurora enthusiasts alike, the Aurora Summit combines the enjoyment of this rare natural phenomenon with photography, art, history, culture and adventure. Guests will find a welcoming group of people at all experience levels, who are eager to tell their stories and share advice for future Aurora sightings. The event will come to a close with a grand finale, where guests may share photos, win awards and claim raffle prizes.

Hosted by Mike Shaw Photography, the Aurora Summit will be held at Superior Shores Resort & Conference Center in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Admission is $179 for the full conference, which includes three meals, or $69 for the Banquet Only, which includes the keynote speech.

The event is open to the public, but guests must register to attend. Please register by Monday, Oct. 1, 2018.